‘Brazil’s airports can handle World Cup traffic’

Porto Alegre, April 12 (IANS) Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff insists the country's airports will be ready in time for an influx of tourists during this year's FIFA World Cup.

Officials last month admitted that key airport expansion projects planned for the June 12-July 13 event will not be ready in time, prompting the government to allow the use of military terminals, reports Xinhua.

But speaking during a press conference here Friday, Rousseff said current airport facilities "were more than enough" to cope with World Cup demand.

She also pointed to higher disposable income among Brazilian for a boom in air travel.

"They (critics) don't pay attention to one crucial fact about Brazil. People who previously did not even enter an airport are now going in there and taking flights," she said.

Rousseff also rejected claims that much of Brazil's World Cup infrastructure will not be used after the tournament.

"These projects aren't for the World Cup, they are for the people of Brazil," she added.